Santa Ana Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

Determining Liability in Santa Ana Slip And Fall Claims

A slip and fall accident and injuries on someone else’s property do not automatically mean they are financially responsible. You, with the help of your Santa Ana slip and fall lawyer, must prove the property owner was negligent to receive settlement money or a jury award from an insurance company. Proving negligence in a slip and fall accident can be trickier than proving negligence in a car accident or other types of personal injury claims, making it even more important that victims consult an experienced Santa Ana slip and fall accident attorney.

Prevailing in your Santa Ana slip and fall accident claim requires you to prove the following:

• The defendant you named in your lawsuit owns or manages the property where your slip and fall accident happened.
• The defendant did not warn you about hazards or keep walking areas safe for visitors.
• You suffered harm because the defendant failed to maintain a safe environment.

Under California law, property owners have a legal obligation to maintain a safe environment for visitors, which includes fixing known issues when possible and warning visitors of existing issues that could lead to accidents and injuries. Breaching this obligation puts visitors at risk. Lawyers, insurance providers, and courts review several factors to decide if a breach of duty toward an injured visitor occurs, including:

• How likely a slip and fall accident and injury could happen in this specific area
• How likely someone would experience a severe injury
• The level of knowledge a property owner had about the hazard that led to an accident
• How much fixing or removing the dangerous condition financially burdens the property owner
• The extent of control a property owner has over a hazard or dangerous condition that led to a slip and fall accident and injuries

Courts usually hold property owners liable for damages related to a slip and fall accident if owners had control over the hazard, knew about the dangerous condition, and chose not to remove the hazard, fix it, or warn visitors about the danger.